Automobile torpedo.



H. G. GILLMORQ AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO. AFPLIGATION FILED OCT 28, 1907.

Patented Jan. 3,1911;

"UNITED STAS .a'rn'r 0mm HOBATIO G. GIIlLMOR, QU INCY, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR TO NEW JERSEY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A.CQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUToMoBILn TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 1911.

Application filed October 28, 1907. Serial No. 399,517.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IORATIO Gr. GiLLMOR a citizen of the United Statesof America,

residing at Quincy, county of Norfolk, State .of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile Torpeknown in theartas automobile torpedoes,

and one of-the objects of my invention is to construct a torpedo whichfor a given size and weight shall be capable of traveling ata greaterspeed and for a greater distance than is the case with torpedoes asheretofore constructed.

Another object is to minimize change in moment of weight of the torpedoabout the centerof buoyancy thereof, as the working fluid escapes inrunning; and so toobviate the need for maintaining the diving rudders'at an increasing angle toward the end of the run of torpedo, therebyavoiding the resistance introduced by the maintenance of these ruddersat' an angle. Another objectis to avoid the loss of heat to the water inwhich the torpedo moves, which loss of heat seriously reduces theellicienc y of torpedoes-in which the air is preheated by burning thecombustible withinthe air flask of such torpedoes.

Further objects of the invention will here inafter appear; and, to'these ends, the invention consists of atorpedo for carrying out theabove objects embodying the features of construction, combination ofelements, and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operationsubstantially as hereinafter described and claimed in this specificationand shownin the accompanyingdrawings; in which. I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section ofa torpedo'embodying myinvention, parts at front and rear of the same being broken away. Fig. 2is a section at the plane indicated by a; a: in Fig. l looking towardthe forward end of the torpedo with the boiler fines showing through thewater Fig. 3 .is a section atthe plane indicated by .y 3 in Fig. 1;

r imilar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures;

' (a) represents the. flask in which compressed air at high pressure iscarried, and

(b) a vessel constructed to stand within the air flask (a), and providedwith a vapor and liquid space (0) andfa combustion space (d).

the torpedo; (f) a pump driven by the propelling motor drawing water,from the water in which the torpedo moves, by the inlet pipe (g) anddischarging the same through pipe (h) tothe space (c).of the vessel(6)," and a fuel pump also driven by the pro (6) represents thepropelling motor for v polling motor drawing liquid fuel through thesuction pipe from the fuel tank (Z), and discharging the same throughthe discharge pipe (m) to the combustion space (a?) of the vessel (n)represents an outer casing separated from the lower portion of thevessel (7)) by spaces (0) forming passages by which air may pass to theduct (p) and thence to the free surfaces of the liquid (g) in the C0111?bustion space ((1). y

(r) is a water space formed by double walls of the vessel (6) at the topthereof;

intowhich space the wateris discharged by the pump (f) through the pipe(h). 'The space (7') is kept full by the dam or ba-flle plate (8) overthe top of which the water must flow to reach the main water space (0)of the vessel (6).

p (t) represents flues by which the gases pass from the combustion space(d) 'to the space (a), and (u) a tube communicating with the main supplypipe (12), supplying motive fluid to the motor.

(w) represents an igniting or primer tube for igniting the combustible"(g) at the proper moment,-and (2) supports for retaining .the vvessel(b) in place within the air The weight of air carried in the flask of atorpedo is capable of burning more than one sixthits weight of ahydrocarbon such as alcohol As now constructed only a limited amount ofsuch hydrocarbon is burned by the air charge to raise thetemperature ofthe air' before entering the propelling motor and so increase the workdone'by it. A limit to the amount of heat which may be so added isplaced by the necessity of limiting the temperature of the working fluidto a temperature which may be withstood by the materials of which themotor is constructed, and, in any. case, the amount of hydrocarbon soburned is 'very muchless than that which might be burned by the air inair at one thousand pounds pressure is nearly twenty-five times that inair atat- -mospheric pressure. This increase in combustion rate at highpressure makes it pos-\ .sible to provide, within a small space andwithoutspecial means, for the burning in a short" time of a relativelylarge weight of fuel for the generation of heat.

' One feature of this inventionresides in the employment of the airprovided 'primarily for the propelling charge of a tor pedo toburn'aquantity of fuel, preferably in liquid form, approximating to thefull quantity which can be burned by the air chargeand' the utilizationof theheat so reduced for the ropulsion of the torpedo y generatingunder pressurethe vapor of aliquid; which vapor, together with theproducts of combustion, at a temperature as I high as practicable, areemployed to drive the propelling motor of the torpedo. To

a Vessel b), which is virtually a boiler open freelyon the vapor side ofthe air within which the fuel for firing the boiler is burned.v

; Since the pressure is equal on all sides of the material of thisvessel, the sheets of which "it is constructed needbe only of thethick-- ness'necessary for reasonable rigidity andto contain the fluidsused. The boiler may,- t'herefore,'be of very light construction. To

avoid possible injurious efiect of large free 4 surfaces of fluid uponthe longitudinal and transverse stability of the torpedo, the waterspaces in the vessel (1)) are sub-divided-by longitudinal and transversepartitions having small apertures to. permit the fluid to flow slowlyfrom one side to the other to. equalize levels but prevent; sudden rushof .finidsuch as mightbe occasioned by. giving an inclination to'th'etorpedo in any direc- -tion. These partitions serve further-to add tothe stiffness of thelight construction of the vessel. f

To'insure the presence of fuel in the space ((5) at starting a smallquantity is let into the'combustion space ((1) of the vessel (6) 60before charging the air flask. When the torpedo is charged the pressureon thesurfa'ce of will close the discharge valve of the pump (i) andfurther flow of the, fuel from the fuel tank (Z) to the space (d) willbe prevented until the starting of the accomplish this 1 construct thetorpedo with a content of the flask.

completely filledafter the torpedo is charged.

Launching the torpedosets the pump (2') in motion; afterwlncha-definiteamount of fuel will be. discharged at (g) by each stroke of the pump.

1 construct the combustion space (d) with greatly flaring sides so thata shallow vessel is formed in which the area of the free surface ofliquid will, with only a small increase in the depth of the liquidincrease from-the area of the cylindrical bottom part to many times thatarea. The area of the cylindrical bottom part is arranged to givethedesired rate of combustion of the fuel in air at the high pressure withwhich the torpedo starts. The range in area of the free surface ofliquid to be provided for in the combustion space (cl) will vary withthe designed initial and final air pressure in the flask and dependsupon these pressures, For example, if the initial and final pressureswere designed to be 1,000 pounds and a a 300 pounds per square inch,respectively, the

. combustion space would be designed so that a small increase in depthof the liquid would increase the area of 'the.= free surface of theliquid fuel exposed to theair from the area ofthe cylindrical bottompart to about 2;} times that, area, or if the initial and finalpressures were 2,000 pounds and 300 pounds per square inch,respectively, an'increase of about seven times in-the free'surface area.of the liquid would b e provided-for; In this way provision is Ifi'iadefor an almost constant rate ofburning forthe range in flask pressurefrom the beginning to the end I of, the run of thetorpedo;

The fuel (g) ignited at the proper moment by meansof a primer orignition tube similar to. that. heretofore employed for the ignition ofliquid hydrocarbon for v heating the air within the flask of torpedoes.

To avoid the loss of heat f'which would result from genenalheating ofthe air contained withintlie air flask, the' walls of the,combustion'spac'e of the, vessel.(b) are made indicated inthe drawing bythe arrows,

double as illustrated, and form between reaches the free surfaces of theliquid at- (g), taking'up on its way heat, which would otherwise beradiated. to the general air.

vThe pump'se't in motion by the motor (a) when :the torpedo "islaunched,

will draw .waterflfromtl'ie sea through the 'inlet pipe' (9),. anddischarge the. same a construction of the vessel (b) with double wallsat its top, in the manner indicated serves a double purpose preventingloss'of 45 r evaporation under the average conditions heat from the topof the vessel to the general content of the air flask and thence throughthe walls of the torpedo to the surrounding water; and at the same time,increases reatly the heating surface of the boiler.

7 hewater discharged into the vessel follows the course-indicated in thedrawing by the arrows; and is, therefore, first presented 'to contactwith gases after they have been already considerably cooled. It ispossible by this construction" tfo provide relatively I thence tothe'main propelling motor of the great heating surfaces with a boilerhaving small water content? T llie vapor generated by the heating of thewater in the vessel (7)) mixes with the products of combustion in thespace after these have traversed considerable heating surfaces and theirtem-' peratures have been reduced. The admixture of the vapor with theproducts of co nbustion further reduces the temperature of the Whole;"and, at this high but limited temperature, the products of combustion,air and vapor are led by the pipe (14) which, since it bears nopressure, may be very light in construction, to the supply pipe ('0) andtorpedo.

Since the total "heat of evaporation of water falls with reduction inthe pressure, the weight of water evaporated by, the heat of combustionof the constant supply 'of fuel will be less at high pressures than atlow pressures; and, therefore, as the pressure within the flask fallsthere will be an increase in the rate of evaporation. This increase inevaporation rate with falling pressure will tend to reduce the rate offall of pressure within the'flask. I prefer to construct the pumps (f)andopposite one another with plungers driven at the same speed with thesame stroke and to give to the two plungers such sectional areas thatthe volumes displaced by them are in the 'ratio'. of the volume of waterto the volume of liquid hydrocarbon necessary for its as to initialtemperature of the water and pressure within the flask (a). By so construct-ing the pump there will be delivered to the vessel (1)) with eachunit weight of water the necessary weight of fuel to insure theevaporation of this water.

- The withdrawal of mixed vapor and products of combustion from thespace (0') 2 through the duct (u) to the motor, through the supply pipe(1;), introduces air through the spaces (0) and the pipe (77) to thecomibustion sfpace (d) and keeps a continuous supply 0 the necessary airfor the combustion of the .fuel at"(g)within this space.

The mixed vapor and products of combustion at the temperature at whichthey are led to the motor, are of much greater volume than, and arecapable of doing work greatly in excess of the work which could I bedone by, the air which was employed for the propelling motor lightensthe torpedo when running; and, since the weightremoved is forward of thecenter of buoyancy, changes the balance of the torpedoand ,causes thebow to tend to rise; To keep the torpedo at the proper depth thistendency of the bowto rise has to be corrected by the diving rudders andto maintain these at the necessary angle increases the resist: anceopposing the passage of the torpedo through the water and reduces itsspeed. To avoid this change in balance, I arrange the tank containingthe fuel carried so that the distance of the center of gravity of thefuel from the center of buoyancy on oneside shall be, as near as may be,as many times the distance of the center of gravity of the air in theair flask from the center of buoyancy on the other side as the weight ofair discharged in running the torpedo for a given intervalof time is amultiple of the weight of fuel withdrawn from the tank for burningduring the same time. For example, if it be arranged that alcohol is employed as a fuel and that nearly but .not quite all the alcohol whichcould be,burned by the air discharged, leaving some uncon sumed air, issupplied, the weight of air discharged would be about seven times theweight of alcohol withdrawn from the tank l and burned. The air flaskand fuel tankwould in this case be so placed that the distance of thecenter of gravity of; the fuel,-

aft, or to the rear, of the center of buoyancy of the torpedo would beabout seven times the distance of the center of gravity of the aircontained in the flask forward of the center of buoyancy of thetorpedd." The tendency of the bow torise on account of the discharge ofair would then be counteracted by the'withdrawal and burning ofoneseventh the Weight of this air in fuel from the fuel tank at adistance aft of t-he center of buoyancy seven times the distance I "thatthe center of gravity of the air -discharged is forward of the center ofbuoyarmy; and, since the ratio of air discharged to fuel'burned isapproximately constant, an

approximately unchanged total moment of the weight of the torpedo andits contents about the center of buoyancy of the torpedo will be"maintained throughout the run of the torpedo and the loss of speedincident to the use of the diving rudders to correct changing balance ofthe torpedo will be avoided, witha corresponding increase in range andaccuracy of the torpedo.

"It will be'u'nderstood that the Vapor generatorflmight be installedexternalto the air.

flask (a) and-the air, after discharge from the'fl'ask, be employed forburning the fuel and generating a vapor under pressure, which vaporwould bemixed with the prod-- nets of combustion and the mixtureemploydinithe propelling motor. Such an arrangement while possible isopen to the objection that considerable spacewouldbe required, and alsoconsiderable additional Weight on'accountof the necessity of const-ructing all parts to Withstand the presv motive fluid is supplied tothe-motor.

.sure (usually 350 to" 500 lbs.) at which the The ';-li uid forevaporation might also be stored .w1thin-the =hull of the torpedo 3with; suitable, meansfor its supplyjto the vapor gen 25. pose,.mtr drawnfrom the Itwil-lbe' eraton instead .0f. employingflfor' thepurcontainedunder pressure in a fuel tank ,with suitable meansto control the flowthereof from. the gaseous fuel tank to the combustion chamberfaf), andfurther, thatfjinstead of the means shown for producing and 3'5regulating the supplycof fuel, to: the combustion space, othe'rlmeanssuch for instance-as the pressure of 'gaseson the surface of the liquidfuel might be employed to produce the-flow thereof. 3

.Qb'viously'some features of, the inventlon may'beus'edwithout others,and the inven.

tion ma'y beigembodied in widely var'yiI' 1g forms. Therefore, withoutlimiting the 'inventio'n to the construction 'shown' or. de-

- following scribed or enumerating eiu-ivalents, I claim and desire tosecure by 1. An autombbile' torpedo, in combination with a compress -ai1*fl'as a shallow vessel adapted tqholdcl quid uel" with its free levelsurface exposed; to the air in said air flask, the sides of said vesselin said vessel so increa's'ethe araoft means whereby; said fuel may beignited.

'2. An automobile'torp'edo, including, in combination wlth a compressedair storage .reservoir, a completely inclosed'combustion chamber whollycontained within said reservoir, means whereby the heat radiated energysupplied to the propelling tters Patent the from the walls of saidcombustion chamber is intercepted and employed to heat the air passingto said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel to said combustionchamber and means whereby hot gases may be led from the interior of saidcombustion chamber to the propelling motor of said torpedo,substantially as described.

3. The combination in an automobiletorpedo, of a boiler constructed tocontain a.

vaporizable liquid and the vapor thereof and provided with a combustionchamber boiler by he conducting walls, with an air storage' rese oir, afuel tank and means for supplying-and burning fuel and air in theseparated from the liquid contained by said i combustion chamber of saidboiler, substantially as described.

4. An automobile torpedo, combination with an air'stora'ge reservoir, a

including, in

boiler wholly contained within said reser voir, constructed to holdifa-..vapo r izable" liquid and the vaporthereof; means for'supplying avaporizable .liquidto said boiler, a

fuelstorage tank, and means whereby-fuel" ma be supplied and burnedundersaid 'stantially,as described. :2

with a compressed air flask, a fuel storage self; propelled torpedoprovided; a

tank, a boiler constructed'withIf ivater and bui ferwithin said airstorage reservoir, sub-f steam spaces and a separate combustion chamber,means for supplying water to said boiler, means for supplying andburningv fuel in the combustion chamber. of said boiler, and means formixing the vapor generated in said boiler -with the gases of combustionafter said gases have traversed heating surfaces of said boiler, wherebythe volume ofvfluid under pressure and the motor of said torpedo aregreatly increased. i 31? 6. An automobile torpedo having a-i'ese'rthe;water spaces to said boiler, meansrfor 'ivo'ir containing compressedair, a boiler-'constructed with combustion spaces separated ,by-suitableheat-transmitting wallsv from supplying water to' said boiler, a fuelcon-a.

taming tank, means for supplying, igniting and burning fuel in thecombustionspaces of said b01161, means for mixing steam ens erat'ed insaid boiler with gases of com ustion aftersaidgases have been cooled bycontact with water-cooled surfaces of said boiler, and a pipeto conductvaporand gases. under. pressure from said boiler'te the motor propellingsaid torpedo substantlally asdescribed.

7. A self-propelled torpedo provided-with a compressed air flask,aboiler'withinsaid flask, constructed with vapor and liquid spaces andseparate combustion spaces,-

means whereby a vaporizable liquid and a.

suitable quantity of fuel to evaporate the same are supplied to thevapor and liquid Fido w spaces and to the combustion spaces,respectively, of said boiler, means whereby admix ture of the vapor andproducts of combustion are effected, and means whereby mixed vapor andgases are led to the motor of said torpedo.

S. A self-propelled torpedo including, in combination with an airstorage reservoir, a boiler constructed with water and vapor spaces anda separate combustion chamber divided from the water space by heatconducting walls. in contact at one side with the 'ater within saidboiler, a pump for supplying water from the sea to saidboiler, afuel-containing reservoir, means for supplying, igniting and burningfuel in the -combustion chamber of said boiler, and

means whereby steam and gases under pressure are supplied to thepropellingmotor of said torpedo, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a compressed air storage reservoir with a boilerconstructed to be wholly contained within said reservoir. means forsupplying water to said boiler, and means for supplying fuel to beburned within the air under pressure in said reservoir for thegeneration of steam in said boiler.

10. An automobile torpedo, including, in combination with a compressedair storage reservoir. a slightly constructed boiler contained withinsaid reservoir open to the gases therein and arranged to hold avaporizable liquid, the vapor thereof and gases. means for supplying avaporizable liquid to said boiler. and means for supply ing and burninga fuel under said boiler, substantially as described.

11. ,\n automobile torpedo including, in

combination with a compressed air storage 1'( Ql'\'t ll. an iuclosedvessel wholly contziined within said storage reservoir constructed withspaces to contain a vaporizable liquid and the vapor thereof. and separate combustion spaces, means for supply-' ing a vaporizable liquid to.said vessel and combustion spaces of said vessel, substantially asdescribed.

12. An automobile torpedo, including, in combination with a compressedgas storage reservoir having its center of gravity at one side of thecenter of buoyancy of the torpedo, a liquid storage reservoir having itscenter of gravity at the other side of the said center of buoyancy,connections for withdrawing the stored gas from its reservoir for thepropulsion of the torpedo, and means for sinmltancously Withdrawing thestored liquid from its reservoir in such amount that the weight of thegas with drawn mutiplied by the distance of its center of gravity to oneside of the center of buoyancy is equal to the weight of the liquidwithdrawn multiplied by the distance of its center of gravity to theother side of the center of gravity to one side of the center consumedmultiplied by the distance of its center of gravity to the other side ofthe center of buoyancy, whereby the balance of the torpedo ismaintained.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

11. G. GILLMOR. \Vitnesses:

'i'noams II. KELLY, MI HAEL A. HORIGAN.

means for supplying and igniting fuel in the center of buoyancy, wherebythe balance of of buoyancy is equal to the weight of fuel consumedmultiplied by the distance of its

